The Beauty of Experience

Our Young
Careers service continues to bring employers and students
together, helping bridge the transition from education to
employment for young people in London.

Year 10 students from Hendon School were given the opportunity
to practice their interview skills with global cosmetics giant
L'Oréal on Monday.

L'Oréal representatives from the UK and Ireland, Katie and
Karina spent more than two hours with the students as part of Young
Careers, Reed in Partnership's careers advice pilot.

Karina, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility;
and Katie, Senior Talent Acquisition Manager, held mock interviews
with 14 students who were eager to hone their interview techniques
and learn what to expect from the real deal.

In the week before the interviews, students were asked to select
from a range of typical L'Oréal roles, such as Beauty Adviser
or Marketing Team Assistant, and prepare for the one that appealed
to them the most.

During the one-to-one interviews, students were asked about
their achievements, strengths, and what they thought they could
bring to the role. They were challenged on their awareness of the
L'Oréal brand and why they thought they would be an asset to
the organisation.

After each interview, Katie and Karina gave students detailed
feedback relating to their performance, highlighting where they
thought they excelled, and giving tips on where they could improve.
Students were also given advice around how to use their school and
extra-curricular activities to demonstrate certain skills, in place
of the workplace experience that many young people lack.

Hendon School student Renee was the first to be interviewed. She
said: "I enjoyed today, it filled my confidence when it comes to
interviews, and I now know what should happen during an
interview.

"It will definitely help towards future
interviews."

Another student, Louise, who recently moved to London from South
Africa, said:

"I felt like I learnt a lot about how to present myself when
going for an interview and I've learnt how to research the right
information about the specific place you're trying to work at.

"Everyone here has never really had an interview
because we're only 15, so it'll definitely help us get an idea of
what it's going to be like when it happens."

Young Careers is an Education and Skills Funding Agency pilot
designed to help develop new and effective ways of providing
careers support to school students. It is co-funded by the European
Social Fund. Visit youngcareers.org for more information.